We’re a platform… not the black helicopters

October 14 2013 |

More than once someone has said to me "you guys should be fighting this issue." When I hear that phrase I immediately understand that the person talking has little-to-no understanding of how Surfrider Foundation works. We are a platform for volunteers to take on coastal issues that they deem worthy.We are not a SWAT team waiting for someone's signal so we can parachute in and save the day.There are massive differences between these two things.

Surfrider Foundation is made up of hundreds of thousands of people that volunteer on behalf of the coasts, some in large ways and other in small ways. Most of that large number do very little but they DO act in some way which sets them apart from the tens of millions of people that live on the coast. A meaningful percent of that total number does a bit more -- they may come to beach cleanups or a social gathering. A small percent of the total do large amounts of work on behalf of their local coasts. What all these people have in common is they are volunteers, they don't just talk about what's wrong they act on it and lastly they focus on issues that intersect Sufrider's mission. Surfrider does have paid staff in various parts of the world but these people exist to enhance our core strategy which is engaged activism.

We are not some kind of special forces unit (complete with black helicopters) that will look out for your favorite coastal spot, beach access or make sure the water isn't polluted when your child plays in it the next time. We could be all those things IF someone deems those things important enough to invest their time in taking them on. It's actually pretty simple, unless someone goes beyond caring about an issue... and acts... that issue will be defined by others. It's very possible that it will be defined in a way that isn't aligned with the way you'd like to see things. Beach access could be lost, water could stay polluted or a wave could be lost. We're simply a platform for people to volunteer on a given coastal issue. We'd LOVE to have you join us. Go here to get a free weekly newsletter Soup. Go here to find a local chapter. Go here to become a member.